As we get deeper into the draft, the picture gets cloudier as to which direction Bill Belichick and his staff will go. While there are immediate needs, the Patriots have earned a reputation for going for value rather than trying to fill a hole. With that in mind, the only prediction that should be considered a sure thing is that New England will probably avoid taking a running back or tight end (quarterback is always a wild card with this team, so it remains an option).

Beyond that, though, anything's available. Here are the options that make the most sense for the Patriots in rounds two and three:

There's a decent chance that USC’s Robert Woods or Cal’s Keenan Allen could be the pick - or both - of these spots. One of those two heady receivers would solve the Pats’ need for a larger downfield presence and would present great value in the second round.

If those two should come off the board early, Oregon State’s Markus Wheaton or Louisiana Tech’s Quinton Patton would also be quality candidates. They aren’t as complete products as Woods and Allen and are much less likely to start right away. However, Wheaton has elite deep threat potential while Patton is one of the more intriguing possession receivers in this draft.

Cornerback is another huge need for the Pats here. While a dream scenario would have Boise State’s Jamar Taylor fall to them, he’s likely to come off the board early in round two, but could be acquired by trading up. Other options at defensive back at these picks include Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay, both out of Mississippi State. UConn’s Blidi Wreh-Wilson is another possibility.

Defensive line is probably the least-pressing need here, but if the right player falls to the them (read: SMU’s Margus Hunt), the Patriots could easily pounce. Defensive tackle Kawann Short of Purdue and DE Tank Carradine from Florida State are other pass rushers who could hear their names called.

(In terms of need, an offensive lineman makes more sense in the third round. However, if the Patriots have fallen in love with a player like Alabama's Barrett Jones or Kentucky's Larry Warford, they could make that move here as well.)

If there's a spot where the Patriots might get a little crazy with their pick (for example, picking LSU's Tyrann Mathieu), it's at No. 83, where a player high on their draft board may end up falling. Likely, this could be a solid offensive line prospect or any player they believe fits their defensive scheme best. If we're discussing need, then a linebacker that can play in space in third down situations would be the best choice.

This is likely where the Patriots would make a value-based pick, especially if players like Kansas State's Arthur Jones or Southern Miss' Jamie Collins fall to the third round. More likely options include: UConn's Sio Moore, Rutgers' Khaseem Greene and Florida's Jon Bostic.

Rarely do the Patriots go a draft without taking at least one offensive lineman and a quarterback at some point. While a guard or center makes the most sense here, the team will likely go with the most talented options available. Alabama's Barrett Jones or Kent State's Brian Winters are some quality options, should they remain available. We could try go all-out to predict this selection, but Belichick has a tendency to grab linemen that no one had going even close to that round.

If the team does in fact intend to deal Ryan Mallet, it shouldn't be considered a shocker of they move to replace him at backup quarterback with one of these picks. The cases of Mallett and Kevin O'Connell in 2008 are evidence of that. You could expect to see the Patriots go for Mike Glennon out of NC State or Tyler Wilson here, should they fall.